Class A Misdemeanor Charges and Penalties

According to US law, criminal offenses are classified into two major categories: felonies and misdemeanors. Misdemeanors are defined as those offenses which are of a less serious nature; they are usually punished by a short jail term and/or fines.

Classification of Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors are classified according to the seriousness of the offense; the usual categories are Class A, Class B and Class C. Each US state has its own laws regarding Class A misdemeanors. These laws outline the offenses that are considered to be Class A misdemeanors, as well as the punishment that follows a Class A misdemeanor conviction.

The offenses that qualify as misdemeanors are quite similar in all US states. Some of the common misdemeanor offenses are petty theft, drug possession, public intoxication, prostitution, simple assault, trespassing, disorderly conduct, vandalism, and DUI. However, the classification of misdemeanors according to their severity depends on the location of conviction. Details of Class A misdemeanors and their punishment in some US states are discussed below.

Class A Misdemeanors: State-Specific Information

Code 13A-5-3 of the state of Alabama defines Class A misdemeanors as a category of offenses. Code 13A-5-7 outlines the prison term for those convicted of Class A misdemeanors: up to one year of imprisonment in a county jail. The fines imposed for Class A misdemeanor in the state of Alabama must not exceed $6,000. Those convicted of these misdemeanors must be sentenced by a judge in a court of law. For more information on the punishment for these offenses in Alabama, visit www.sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/.

The state of Virginia classifies misdemeanors into 4 categories: Class I, Class II, Class III and Class IV. Class I misdemeanors are similar to the Class A misdemeanors of other states. The Virginia COV 18.2-11 states that the punishment for a Class I misdemeanor conviction may include a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. In order to understand more about Class I misdemeanors in Virginia, visit http://www.abc.state.va.us/facts/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/punish.html.

In the state of Alaska, Class A misdemeanor offenders are commonly ordered to pay fines. According to AS 12.55.035, the fines for committing a Class A misdemeanor that does not result in death should not exceed $10,000 if the convict is not an organization, or should not exceed $200,000 if the defendant is an organization. Exceptions to this law are outlined in AS 12.55.036. To learn more about Class A misdemeanors and their punishments in Alaska, visit https://www.officeofvictimsrights.legis.state.ak.us/ovrdocuments/typical_prosecution.pdf.

The common sentence given to offenders convicted of Class A misdemeanor charges in Wisconsin includes imprisonment for up to nine months and/or a fine of up to $10,000. In the case of a repeat offense, the individual may be sentenced to a jail term of up to 2 years; the prison term is to be served at a county correctional facility. Probation is a common punishment for a Class A misdemeanor. For more information, visit https://www.officeofvictimsrights.legis.state.ak.us/ovrdocuments/typical_prosecution.pdf.

In the state of Arizona, a number of offenses are regarded as Class I misdemeanors. Included in the list is unauthorized sale of lottery tickets, attempt of a class 6 felony, public sexual indecency, fraudulent use of a credit card, impersonating a public servant, and false reporting to law enforcement agency. All details of Class I misdemeanor offenses in Arizona are available at http://www.azleg.state.az.us/alisPDFs/council/Misdemeanors.pdf. The punishment for a Class I misdemeanor offense in Arizona is six months of jailtime and a fine of up to $2500. Learn more at http://legal.asua.arizona.edu/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/misdemeanor.html.

According to Section 16 of the California Penal Code, criminal offenses have been divided into two categories: felonies and misdemeanors. No further sub-division is present in the State of California. Misdemeanor offenders are sentenced to a jail term of up to a year and fines of up to $2,000. In some cases probation, community service, and counseling are also a part of the sentence.

Class I misdemeanor offenses in the state of Florida include crimes like first-offense DUI, first degree petty theft, and identity theft. The maximum jail term for a Class I misdemeanor is one year and the maximum fine is $1,000. The jail term is usually served at a county correctional facility under the supervision of the county sheriff.

The state of Illinois has its own laws with regard to Class A misdemeanors. All details regarding these laws can be found at http://www.ilga.gov/LEGISLATION/ILCS/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1876&ChapAct=720%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B5%2F&ChapterID=53&ChapterName=CRIMINAL+OFFENSES&ActName=Criminal+Code+of+1961. The common crimes that fall within the Class A misdemeanor category in Illinois are reckless driving, DUI, possession of firearms, and possession of marijuana beyond the permissible limit. The punishment for these offenses includes a fine of up to $2,500 and a jail term of up to one year.

New York Statute 70.15 outlines the punishment for misdemeanors in the state. The penalty for a Class A misdemeanor offense is a jail term of more than 15 days but less than a year. Similarly, in cases of Class I or Class A misdemeanor offenses in New Jersey, a common sentence is either imprisonment in a county jail for less than one year, a fine of $2,500, or both.

According to § 12.21 of Texas Penal Code, Class A misdemeanor offenders are sentenced to a jail term of one year, a fine of up to $4,000, or both.

In the state of Kansas, Class A misdemeanor offenses include theft or shoplifting, second offense DUI, and possession of marijuana. The penalty for this category of crime is a jail term not exceeding one year.

As per the Oregon Criminal Code ORS 161.615, offenders convicted of Class A misdemeanors are sentenced to a maximum jail term of one year.